Local Cuisine of Aershan

All delicacies in Aershan are purely natural and pollution-free, with nearly all ingredients sourced locally. As an untouched wilderness in the Greater Khingan Range, Aershan boasts over 120 varieties of wild mountain vegetables blanketing its hills, more than 60 of which can be harvested on a large scale. Wild vegetables such as bracken deliver delicate flavors and bring great benefits to health preservation. In addition, wild game including Mongolian gazelles and snow hares serve as tasty cooking ingredients. A vital reminder: many restaurants in Aershan City do not provide printed menus, so be sure to confirm dish prices before ordering to avoid being overcharged.

Aershan has been famed for wild game dating back to the Qing Dynasty. A wide range of mountain delicacies were designated as tributes sent to the imperial palace in Beijing. Extra precious varieties included bear paws, snouts of wapiti (locally known as handahan, also nicknamed "four unalikes", scientific name Elaphurus davidianus), hazel grouse (the legendary "dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground" refers to this bird), Mongolian gazelles and snow hares.

Wild taimen fish from Aershan features exquisite tender flesh, ranking as a premium feast dish. Its soft pale meat offers unparalleled delicate taste, a rare culinary treasure. It can be pan-fried, deep-fried, braised, stewed, stir-fried with starch, cooked with chopped chili peppers or boiled in clear broth. Stewing in plain soup works best to retain its original authentic flavor, leaving a lasting pleasant aftertaste.

Liugen fish is a small cold-water scale fish native to the Halahai River and barrier lakes. It gets its name from its habit of foraging and lingering around submerged willow roots. Golden deep-fried liugen fish is crispy, fresh and aromatic, an ideal side dish for alcohol.

Various freshly picked wild mountain vegetables are blended with corn flour to make vegetable dough balls, originally steamed as staple food. As living standards improved, locals mixed the vegetables with wheat flour or starch, extruded them into tiny balls and deep-fried them as a formal dish. This cooking method gained popularity after people recognized the nutritional value of wild greens. All wild vegetables are sourced locally in Aershan, completely organic and healthy.

Golden chanterelles are a well-known local specialty of Aershan. The classic Northeastern dish chicken stewed with mushrooms is familiar to most people. This nourishing and flavorful stew is available at every local restaurant.